Jonathan Davies returns for the Scarlets © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Magners League

Teams: Aironi | Benetton Treviso | Cardiff Blues | Connacht | Dragons | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Ireland | Italy | Leinster | Munster | Ospreys | Scarlets | Scotland | Ulster | Wales

After two rounds of bruising European competition the Magners League is back this weekend, with the chasing pack out to overhaul Munster at the top of the pile.

The leaders face Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park on Friday, but will do so without prop Marcus Horan and hooker Jerry Flannery, who have both joined their growing injury list. Brendan Williams and Ludovico Nitoglia return to the Treviso backline and Fabio Semenzato and Kristopher Burton are restored at halfback.

Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets have both enjoyed positive starts to their domestic campaigns and face off in a Welsh derby at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday. The visitors need to bounce back from last weekend's mauling away at Leicester while the Blues failed to set the world alight by picking up a narrow win and loss against Edinburgh and Castres in recent weeks.

The Blues are without fullback Ben Blair due to a knee injury, meaning that Chris Czekaj shifts to fullback and Tom James starts on the wing. Dafydd Hewitt is called into the midfield and Andries Pretorius to the back-row. Kiwi Michael Paterson starts in the second-row. Rhys Priestland comes in for the rested Stephen Jones at fly-half for the Scarlets while Wales centre Jon Davies makes his comeback from injury. Rob McCusker shifts to No.8 in place of David Lyons, who is carrying a knock.

Also on Friday, Edinburgh take on Ulster at Murrayfield with both teams keen to get back to winning ways. Andrew Kelly and Ross Rennie return to the home pack while Ulster are without Darren Cave, Jamie Smith and Simon Danielli due to injury. Ruan Pienaar is partnered by Paddy Wallace at halfback and Andrew Trimble shifts from the wing to outside-centre. Pedrie Wannenburg drops to the bench, meaning that Stephen Ferris switches back to blindside flanker and Chris Henry starts at openside.

Leinster returned to form with a bang in Europe, beating Racing Metro and Saracens back-to-back, and they begin their quest to reverse their early Magners League form against Irish rivals Connacht at the Sportsground on Saturday. The home fans will be counting on a claustrophobic atmosphere for their big name visitors to survive.

Fergus McFadden and Eoin O'Malley replace Gordon D'Arcy and Luke Fitzgerald in the centre, while Leo Cullen returns to the starting line up for the first time this season. Interestingly, the second row won't lead the team at the Sportsground as Jamie Heaslip retains the armband for the derby. Eric Elwood has named an unchanged team from the side that beat Bayonne last week, with Ezra Taylor coming on to the bench to replace the injured Andrew Browne.

At Rodney Parade on Saturday, the Dragons take on struggling Aironi as Jason Tovey returns to the Dragons' team alongside Pat Leach as Tom Cheeseman and Ashley Smith miss out due to injury. Rising star Toby Faletau will make his first start of the season at No.8 and Steve Jones will start at hooker following the withdrawal of captain Tom Willis.The Italians have included Italian international youngsters Matteo Pratichetti and Simone Favaro in their starting side while Julien Laharrague returns at fullback.

Sean Holley has rung the changes ahead of the Ospreys visit to Glasgow at Firhill. Nikki Walker and Richard Fussell come on to the wings for the Ospreys, with Tommy Bowe moving into the centre as Shane Williams and Andrew Bishop are rested. Huw Bennett replaces Richard Hibbard at hooker, while Ryan Jones moves from second-row to No.8 as Ian Evans and Justin Tipuric come in for Alun Wyn-Jones and Marty Holah.

Glasgow have promoted hooker Dougie Hall, lock Aly Muldowney and winger Rob Dewey to the starting line-up with Hall replacing Fergus Thomson who is among the replacements. Tom Ryder drops to the bench, while Federico Aramburu is injured.